Ive joined !!!

I started the 5:2 (or a variation of it) a couple weeks ago (actually more of a 4:3 [3 days fasting], but was too low on calories and not feeling well so pulled back to 5:2) as it seems to help me control the snacking better. I'm 5'5", F, CW: 159.8 as of this morning; target loss of 1lb/week. My eating goals are:
M, F: 550 calories
Tu, W, Sat: 1500
Th, Sun: 2100
This gives me an average intake of ~1400, which is my approximate BMR. I do not adjust these for exercise so my net is generally closer to average 11-1200. Occasionally I flex these based on schedule, i.e., last weekend I had a dinner with friends so made that my 2100 day and stayed lower on Sunday; this week I was fasting on Wednesday for religious reasons so I switched Monday and Wednesday targets so I didn't go crazy with too low calorie.

tricia: what's your start of calorie intake? i.e., are you doing a 16:8 or 18:6 IF? I played with that form of IF before with some success but went too aggressive, couldn't get an appropriate number of calories in and started having issues with too low calorie (<1000). Are you part of any other IF groups that are more general to IF or focused on that form of IF?

Mrseadon: Hang in there! the first few fasts are the hardest. Make sure you're getting plenty of protein and not wasting those precious few calories on food that won't sustain you.

The 18:6 is a type of intermittent fasting (IF) where you fast for 18 hours and have a 6 hour eating window (i.e., 7am-1PM, or 2-8PM). Same everyday, but you pick hours that you want to eat your calories, i.e, if you like to go out to dinner with friends, you might pick later hours, but you don't eat in the morning and no late night snacking. Because of hormonal stuff, I think I read that women shouldn't do less than an 8 hour eating window...I could be mis-remembering, but I know there were notes about women needing to be more cautious about how they managed IF regimens.

When I was doing 18:6, I was part of a general IF group that had a lot of good information about the different varieties of IF. So I picked up a lot of info there. I left the group when I purged group memberships that I wasn't active in, since I wasn't doing any form of IF at the time.

For adding image, it's the icon that looks like a page with the corner folded down.

I'm interested in the 5:2, but I'm really not sure I can go a day on 500 calories!

i'm in! I started the 5:2 diet appx 5 weeks ago....and i've lost a pound a week on average.

I'm an avid weight lifter at the gym so using my body as a guinea pig to see what and how it will react....interesting so far....

I'll admit to not being able to do 500 calories....my calories run between 600-800 on fasting days. On non-fasting days i eat between 2300-3000+ calories. lol....yes, i like to eat....

But again....i lift in the gym and i lift very heavy.....i try to do cardio 2x a week.....slow, steady walk on the dreadmill at various diff inclines to help alleviate the boredom.

I'm 5'10"
SW: 185 lbs
CW 180 lbs
Goal weight is 165 lbs
USA Size 12 with goal size of 8

At the moment....i'm going to attempt to either cut back on my calories on non-fasting days and see what happens the next couple weeks or add in more cardio....such decisions....lol

I have also noticed that altho the scale is slowly moving....i have been able to fit into a couple shirts quite nicely that i've not been able to wear cause they were too tight...small changes...

I thought I would give it a go. I have been very surprised how this works. My first fast day was a bit over 600 calories but my second one was much better. I think this is a really good way to find out where high calories hide. I thought I would be weak, hungry and cross but I gave it a go anyway. I think this is the way for me to go, as I can do 2 days a week without too much temptation. I now know and understand what hunger really is! LOL. But do you know the best thing about this method? I will tell you, the following day you know that you are genuinely hungry, and it isnt just boredom or flavour you are craving. It has been an education so far. I am on week 3.

Hi Jen, Glad you're seeing the results you're looking for, but PLEASE be careful. Hopefully a lot of that loss is water weight, but over 2 lbs/week loss when you're that close to goal is probably not healthy or sustainable. Wishing you continued success, but please take care of yourself and don't over deny with a "diet" that you end up rebounding.

I'm watching a friend really struggle after dieting for over a year to get down to a similar goal for her wedding (which she achieved), but then with that over, she lost all motivation and is really struggling to find that balance to stay healthy without "dieting".

Hi all - today was my first day doing this and unfortunately was horrible! Not sure if it had to do with the fast, but I ended up with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Has anyone had anything like this happen? I tried to hold off on my first meal until lunchtime, when I was really hungry and ate a 170 calorie yogurt. After than I started throwing up and feeling sick, so didn't really want to eat, I finished the day with two pieces of toast just because I wanted to try to keep something down. I'm not sure if this means my body just can't tolerate fasting, or if I had the bad luck to start fasting on the same day as getting a stomach bug!

I'm in! Are we all still going?

I'm so glad I found this group. Several years ago I devised my own weight loss plan that involved a form of intermittent fasting and it worked tremendously and I kept the weight off. Granted that was when I was 25 and single. Now, at 38 and having 2 kids, the weight has come back. I've finally got the motivation to start again. I also think that by switching to 6:1 after I reach my goal weight, I can create a true lifestyle change to sustain the loss for good.

Hey all I am Ski,
33 yrs young
13st 13lbs
No defined goal weight- just wanting to lose!
*waves hello*